After receiving an extension ahead of the festive season following the conclusion of its long-term evaluation, our Volkswagen Polo TSI began to reveal a few minor chinks in its armour although none of this detracted from its homecoming in the Eastern Cape writes Siya Mbaduli.
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With a little over 8 months behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Polo Life 1.0 TSI MT, the most notable aspect has been its consistent ride quality with comfort still a major plus to its overall appeal. This was exacerbated after my drive to King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape which spanned a 10-hour period and 989.8 km on the Polo’s odometer. The supportive seats and thoughtfully designed cabin played a significant role in keeping fatigue at bay during the lengthy journey. Even after hours on the road, the ride comfort remained consistent, with the suspension doing an excellent job of smoothing out imperfections on both highways and rural routes.
That aside, the real winner was to keep the journey’s budget low, ever possible with the frugal motor sipping intermittently on the open road. Although a full tank and a half tank would have sufficed for the journey, I opted to fill up twice for added peace of mind. Each refuel cost approximately R820, providing a range of 630 kilometres per tank. Volkswagen’s well-known 999 cm³ turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivers respectable performance figures of 70 kW and 175 N.m. Paired with the MQB-based Polo’s relatively lightweight construction, it offers a balanced combination of power and engagement.
During my time in the Eastern Cape, the Polo continued to perform admirably, handling the challenging terrain with ease and emerging unscathed, including its low-profile wheels. With summer in full swing, the air conditioning system proved highly efficient, maintaining a pleasant and comfortable interior. There were some chinks in the armour I noticed while driving in the Eastern Cape, the first of which was the parking aids occasionally failing to emit a warning sound when reversing out of a parking spot, while there was cross traffic behind. This reaffirmed the necessity of physical checks rather than the outright reliance on the aids.
Related: Living With It – Volkswagen Polo Life 1.0 TSI MT [Final Update]
The second was less serious with the digital driver’s cluster displaying a “Keys Not Detected” warning on the dashboard, despite the key being inside the car. This issue made starting the vehicle cumbersome, as I had to press the unlock button twice while seated inside for the system to recognize the key and allow the vehicle to start. These problems are particularly troubling given the vehicle’s low mileage of just 14 590 km.
These two gripes aside, the return journey to Cape Town proved to be just as comfortable as the drive down, despite heavy rain for much of the trip. Throughout, the Polo provided a reassuring sense of safety, with its weight distribution offering stability and the tyres delivering strong grip on tight corners. Maintaining a cruising speed of 120 km/h, I achieved an impressive average fuel consumption of 5.5 L/100 km.
Living with the car throughout December provided a clear reminder of why the Polo remains such a solid choice for many and continues to put Volkwagen’s sales chart alight. Despite the few minor issues, the overall package is compelling, offering a well-rounded balance of comfort, performance and practicality. Its smooth drive and refined handling make it just as suited for long highway trips as it is for navigating through tight city streets.
But, its fuel efficiency, particularly paired with its responsive power delivery, makes the Polo impossible to ignore for prospective buyers seeking a frugal yet stylish companion.
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